River-bauk protection means



March 23 1926.

I. R. KIRK RIVER BANK PROTECTION MEANS Filed March 21 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR arromwgv March 23 ,1926.

I. R. KIRK RIVER BANK PROTECTION MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 L5 IR ATTORNEY WITNESS:

Patented Mar. 23, 1925s ISAAC R. KIRKfOF WESTON, MISSOURI.

RIVERBANK PROTECTION MEANS.

Application filed March 21, 1924. Serial No. 700,890.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISAAC R. KIRK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Weston, in the county of Platte and State U of Missouri, have-invented new and useful Improvements in River-Bank Protection Means, of which the following is aspecification.

My present invention pertains to means for protecting river banks against the action of currents in streams; and it has for its general object to provide improved means for diverting and breaking up a current so as to cause a sand bar to form at the lower or downward stream side of the improved means; my novel means being susceptible of ready construction of materials readily available in various localities and being adapted by virtue ofits construction to withstand powerful currents.

To the attainment of the foregoing, the

, invention consists in the improvement as hereinafter described and definitely claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification:-

Figure 1 is a plan view diagrammatic in character and illustrating the arrangement and the securing of my novel. protection construction in a stream. the direction of the current being indicated by a large arrow. I

Figure 2 is a side elevation-of the body of my novel protection means.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the said body.

Figure 4 is a crosssection taken through the body in the plane indicated by the line.

4-4 of Figure 2.

Figures 5 and 6 are enlarged views showing one of the clamps hereinafter explicitly referred to.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all of the views of. the drawings.

Among other elements mvnovel protection means comprises a body 1 and three cables 2; the body 1 being of triangular form in cross-section with the apex of the angle uppermost as illustrated, and the three cables2 being by preference of wire and flexible in character, though I would have it distinctly understood that the term cable as herein employed is intended to comprehend metallic rods as well as flexible metallic devices.

Theseveral cables 2 referred to are anchored at 3 to the river bank through the medlum of any appropriate anchoring means such as trees and I would have it further understood at this point that the three cables 2 constitute the frame work for the body 1 inasmuch as in the preferred embodiment of my invention the body 1 is built on the three cables. This will be better understood when it is stated that in the building of the bank protection means a metal clamp 4 is fastened to each cable, so that each cable will be even with the other two when the cables are rendered taut. One of the said metal clamps 4- is shown in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings. The several clamps i form the commencement of the construction of the body 1; the said body 1 being composed of heavy poles or small logs 5; the said logs 5 being of uniform predetermined length. It will also be understood. that each log 5 is provided adjacent to its ends with apertures 6 'for the passage of the cables 2. The apertures Gin each log must of necessity be at the sameangle, and by preference the said apertures 6 are equi-distant from the ends of each log. As shown the cables extend through the apertures in the end portions of the logs, each log being engaged by or connected to two cables, and the second log lapping the end portion of thevfirst log, and the third log lapping across the free end portions of the other two, and so on thus forming a body of triangular form in cross-section of a plurality of logs threaded on the cables and arranged in spaced rela- 9 tion. For convenience in construction a body portion of predetermined length may be built on cables of predetermined length, and a clamp such as i may then be used on each cable to hold the logs of the body sec- 9 tion in place and to serve for the connection as illustrated in Figure 6 of other pieces of cables for the next section of the body.

My novel protection body is designed to be built from a river bank or stream bank out into the stream, and so that the body 1 angles downstream; the degree of the said angle to be determined by the direction and force of the current. I would also have it understood that when it is desirable in very swift water, the body 1 may be anchored at any point in the length thereof, this anchor ingbeing preferably effected by placing a log 7 lengthwise in the body 1, and connecting to the log 7 a cable 8 which maybe properly anchored at any point in the stream above the protection body 1 or to any suitable means such as a tree on the bank of the stream. hen deemed expedient, the inclination of the face of the body may be lengthened by increasing the length of the bottom series of logs 5, the said increase in the inclination of the face of the body 1 serving to bring about an increase in the upward pressure of the water and the downward pressure on the body.

When deemed expedient brush 9, Figure 4, may be packed in the body 1, the interstices of the body serving to key the brush thereto. Also when deemed expedient the base logs of the body 1 may be sanded in by fastening a strip 10 of sheet iron or wood, Figure 4, to the lower portion of the upstream face of the body 1.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that my improvement is extremely simple and inexpensive in construction inasmuch as green logs are the principal material employed; and it will also be noted that the body of the construction is extremely strong inasmuch as each log braces and holds two other logs, and all of the logs are bound together by the metallic cables referred to. The logs of the lowermost or bottom series tend to be buried in sand due to the checking of the current by the upwardly converg ing logs. A 'ain there is no liability of the body 1 being undermined inasmuch as the sloping upstream face of the body 1 forces the water upwardly and brings about a corresponding downward pressure on the body 1; and it will further be noted that in the triangular form of body no extraneous bracing is necessary inasmuch as each log braces the other, and in the event of the body 1 turning over in a heavy current no injury will result inasmuch as when made triangular in cross-section any series of the logs will serve properly as the base series. The clamps 4 may be of the well known construction illustrated or of any other construction compatible with the purpose of my invention, the clamps being designed to confine the effects of possible breakage to one section of the structure, and for convenience in threading the cables through the logs.

I have entered into a detailed description of the construction and relative arrangement of the parts embraced in the present and preferred embodiment of my invention in order to impart afull, clear and exact understanding of the said embodiment. I do not desire, however, to be understood as confining myself to the specific construction and relative arrangement of parts inasmuch as in the future practice of the invention various changes and modifications may be made such as fall within the scope of my invention as defined in my appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is

1. Means for protecting the bank of a stream against currents, comprising three cables adapted to be anchored at one end of each to the bank of stream and to extend outwardly into the stream and in a down stream direction, and a body of triangular form in cross-section carried by the said cables and made up of sections the end portions of which are lapped whereby the sections are maintained in spaced relation and interstices are afforded in the body and sides of the body.

2. Means for protecting the bank of a stream against currents, comprising three cables adapted to be anchored at one end of each to the bank of stream and to extend outvardly into the stream and in a down stream direction, and a body of triangular form in cross-section carried by the said cables; the said body being made up of apertured logs threaded on the. cables at points adjacent to the ends of the logs, and with the end portions of the logs lapped and with interstices between the several logs at each side of the body.

Means for protecting the bank of a stream against currents, comprising three cables adapted to be anchored at one end of each to the bank of stream and to extend outwardly into the stream and in a down stream direction, and a body of triangular form in cross-section carried by the said cables; the said body being made up of apertured logs threaded on the cables at points adjacent to the ends of the logs, and with the endportions of the logs lapped and with interstices between the several legs at each side of the body, in combination with clamps, one on each cable, and opposed to one end of the body. 7

4-. A river bank protection construction comprising three cables, a body of triangular form in cross-section formed of apertured logs threaded on the cables with the end portions of the logs lapped and with interstices between the logs in each side of the body, and brush packed in the body and keyed thereto by outward extension of a disposition of portions of the brush in the interstices of the body.

5. A river bank protection construction comprising three cables, a body of triangular formation in cross section formed of apertured logs threaded on the cables with the end portions of said logs lapped and with interstices between the logs in each side on the body, brush packed in the body and key-ed thereto by outward extensions of a portion of said brush arranged in the interslices of the body, and said body being pro vided on its lower portion of its upstream side with an imperforate sheathing fixed to 1 the lower end portions of the logs at said side. In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ISAAC R. KIRK. 

